CityChanger Marjan Ehsassi Advocates for Empowerment through Citizens' Assemblies
In the Californian city of Petaluma, a contentious dispute over the fate of the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds had lingered for years, with no resolution in sight. However, in 2022, the city council took a fresh approach by hosting a citizens' assembly, an initiative designed to give local residents a stronger voice in decision-making.
This assembly, comprising 36 randomly selected residents, engaged in discussions led by the nonpartisan nonprofit Healthy Democracy. They heard from local experts, stakeholders, and deliberated on the issue at hand. After approximately 100 hours of meetings, they presented their decision to the city council.
Today, the fairgrounds are back in use, offering the public a variety of amenities such as an annual fair, speedway races, a local farmers' market, community facilities, and routes for active mobility, as well as accessible green spaces.
While the revitalized fairgrounds may seem like the main highlight, for Marjan Ehsassi, a democracy scholar and Executive Director of the Federation for Innovation and Democracy North America (FIDE - North America), the real significance lies in the process itself.
For years, Marjan worked in international development before Donald Trump's presidency encouraged her to reassess the state of democracy in the United States. This spurred her to enroll in the School of Advanced International Studies doctoral program at Johns Hopkins University, where her research focused on re-engaging citizens in political discussions and exploring platforms that foster democracy participation.
Marjan's work uncovered that the main obstacle undermining democratic systems is "voice insecurity," stemming from disengaged elected officials who have forgotten the importance of connecting with citizens. This lack of connection results in an electorate that feels ignored, leading to low voter turnout and disillusionment with democracy.
Citizens' assemblies are Marjan's solution to this challenge. While not a replacement for representative democracy, they aim to offer a more accurate representation of citizen views and contribute to informed policy-making. By engaging citizens in open discussions, the unique insights and perspectives of each participant are integrated into the policy-making process.
Crucial components of successful citizens' assemblies, as outlined by Marjan, include defining the problem, utilizing a democratic lottery for participant selection, and adhering to four essential elements of engagement: information, deliberation, writing, and accountability.
In Petaluma, the process was implemented effectively, resulting in empowered citizens who felt heard and enthusiastic about the democratic process. This kind of connection and reestablishment of trust in democracy is vital for strengthening democracies worldwide.
FIDE - North America provides technical guidance on citizens' assemblies and supports their implementation across North America, contributing to the growing movement toward more inclusive, participatory democracy.
Education and self-development in democracy and political engagement can be achieved through learning about platforms that foster democracy participation, such as citizens' assemblies. Personal growth in civic responsibility is evident when citizens engage in open discussions and feel heard, as seen in the success of the Petaluma citizens' assembly.
